Passion Sunday.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXV, Issue 11, 14 March 1907, Page 3

Passion Sunday.

As the annual commemoration of the death of Our Blessed Saviour approaches, the Church seems to enter into deeper mourning. On the eve of Passion Sunday - the images and statues of the saints, and even the representation of the crucified Redeemer, , are covered with purple veils, which will not be removed till the ' close of Holy Week. From the Ollice- and Mass are omitted the few expressions of joy which remained after Septuagesima Sunday. St. Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church. St. Joseph was chosen by God to watch over the infancy of Christ, to be a protector of Mary's chastity, and to secure her from calumnies in the birth of her Divine Son. So great a dignity, such familiar intercourse with the Deity, required a sanctity far above the common. That St. J oseph possessed this we . know from the inspired Word of God. He is styled in the New Testament ' a just man,' one, namely, endowed with all the virtues. From the fact that no mention'is made of him after the finding of the Child Jesus in the Temple, we conclude that be must have died before the beginning of Our Lord's public ministry. We cannot doubt that he was comforted and assisted in his last moments by Jesus ? 4 nd Mary. Hence his intercession is sough/t particularly to obtain the grace of a happy death. St. Frigidian, Bishop anid Confessor. - St. Frigidian was a native of Ireland, or at least of Irish extraction. Travelling in Italy to improve himself in knowledge, he was chosen Bishop of Lucca. He died in 578, after having, by his piety and zeal for souls added, new lustre to the episcopal office.